Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Revival season 1, episode 2.Syfy’sRevivalseason 1, episode 2 continued the mystery of the revivers and the strange circumstances surrounding Em’s (Romy Weltman) death, and these are the biggest takeaways from the new episode. Even after just two episodes,Revivalis already shaping up to become one ofSyfy’s best original shows. Thereviews forRevivalhave already praised the zombie mystery series, andRevival’s Rotten Tomatoes scoreis already enough to consider the show “fresh” along the review aggregator’s metrics. Much of that is due to the strong premiere, butRevivalseason 1, episode 2 didn’t lose any momentum.
InRevivalseason 1, episode 2, we got a closer look into Em and Dana’s (Melanie Scrofano) relationship as sisters, a peak into their shared traumatic backstory, and a lot of information about Revival Day and the revivers themselves.Revivaleven developed the investigation into Em’s murder a considerable amount. A lot happened inRevivalseason 1, episode 2, and most of it is going to prove important for the rest of the show and its mystery. It’s certainly worth recapping all the major reveals Syfy’s newest show had in store.
9Arlene Regrew Her Brain & Went On A Rampage In The Hospital
Revivers Can Regrow Massive Parts Of Their Bodies In Revival
At the end ofRevival’s premiere episode, Dana and Em found and killed Arlene (Nicky Guadagni), the reviver who killed the horse and was pulling out her own teeth. Em cut Arlene’s scalp and most of her brain off with a scythe, but inRevivalepisode 2, it grew back. Arlene then went on a rampage across the hospital she was taken to, killing a police officer and gravely wounding several nurses and doctors.She eventually tried to kidnap a baby, but the biggest takeaway from the scene was that revivers seemingly can’t die, even when their brains are destroyed.
8Cooper & Wayne Both Met A Mysterious Man Named Blaine
Wayne Already Knew Blaine, But It’s Not Clear How He Got The Baby Back From Arlene
Early on in the episode, Cooper heard some strange noises out in the woods, and he went to go investigate. He stumbled across a strange man, and Wayne (David James Elliott) later identified him as Blaine (Steven Ogg). It’s not clear what Blaine was doing out in the woods, but he later went to the hospital and somehow managed to get the baby away from Arlene before the police could.It may be the case that Blaine knows something about the Revival and the revivers that the police don’t, which could have some big implications onRevivalseason 1.
Blaine is mostly a mystery so far, but his description in thecast ofRevivalimplies that he’s a pastor who is going to use the Revival as an opportunity to spread the good word. That would make sense, as Blaine was quoting scripture when Wayne and the other police officers found him.Blaine mentioned that the “gates of Hell are open,” and it seems he’s something of a doomsday preacher. How he uses his apocalyptic messaging, however, remains to be seen.
7Em Has A History Of Mental Illness & Substance Misuse
Em Doesn’t Remember The Night Of Her Murder Because She Was High
While Dana was searching for Em, we learned a bit more about the younger sister.Em evidently has a history of mental health issues and a problem with substance misuse inRevivalseason 1. Dana found a large bag of painkillers along with some disturbing drawings in Em’s room, and it’s clear she hasn’t been handling something well. The other characters also clearly see that, as most people assume Em died by suicide rather than murder. Her substance abuse also complicates the investigation, as she can’t remember almost any details of the night she was killed.
Weimer Didn’t Kill Em & We Don’t Know Whose Ring Was In Her Mouth When She Revived
At least part of Em’s mental health issues can likely be attributed to Professor Weimer (Gianpaolo Venuta).Em confronted Weimer at a bar, and we learned that he was cheating on his wife, who is suffering from cancer, with Em. They called off their affair sometime before Em died, and we also learned that the ring Em had in her mouth when she revived didn’t belong to Weimer. So, Weimer doesn’t seem tied to Em’s murder, but he’s also not exactly a stand-up guy.
5Dana Revealed That Her Mother Died In A Car Crash 2 Years Ago
Dana & Em’s Mother Died While Em Was Driving, Presumably While High
Revivalseason 1, episode 2 also finally provided some concrete information about Dana and Em’s dark backstory. While riding with Ibrahim (Andy McQueen), Dana revealed that her mother died in a car crash two years beforeRevivalbegan.She also revealed that Em was driving the car the night her mother died, which explains much of the guilt and mental health issues Em has been experiencing. Dana mentioned that Em had to deal with rehab shortly after the crash, which implies that she was high while driving, which may have caused the crash.
Another important fact about Em and Dana’s mother was her birthday.Dana revealed that her mother’s birthday was the same day as Revival Day, which is also the day Em died. Em had gone to the bridge where her mother died on her birthday, only to die and be revived herself. It’s not clear how Dana and Em’s mother ties into the mystery of Revival Day and the revivers, but there’s virtually no chance that detail remains unimportant asRevivalseason 1 continues.
4Em Has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Meaning Her Bones Break Easily
Em Was Sheltered Because Of Her Brittle Bones, But Now They Heal Quickly Because She’s A Reviver
Dana’s conversation with Ibrahim revealed another important piece of concrete information. Em has a genetic condition called osteogenesis imperfecta (OI).Johns Hopkinsexplains that OI is a genetic condition more commonly known as brittle bone disease. Different types of OI can cause soft or malformed bones, and the most severe types usually result in an infant’s death.Em has Type I OI inRevival, meaning her bones are not malformed, but they do break much more easily than a person without OI’s bones would. As we saw during her bar fight, even just falling over is enough to break her wrist.
Em still has osteogenesis imperfecta, meaning her bones still break easily, but her advanced healing as a reviver means they heal almost as soon as she breaks them.
Em’s diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta explains a lot about her characterization inRevival. Her brittle bones are the reason Wayne is so protective of her and why she’s led such a sheltered life. It’s also worth noting thatRevivalhas already explained that revivers can only heal from new injuries and ailments, not any conditions they had before death. So,Em still has osteogenesis imperfecta, meaning her bones still break easily, but her advanced healing as a reviver means they heal almost as soon as she breaks them. It doesn’t seem to make it any less painful, but it should give Em much more freedom and autonomy.
3Em Met Another Reviver Named Rhodey & Ran Away With Him
Rhodey Seems To Be Using His Reviver Powers To Put On Shows Where He Dismembers Himself
After her big bar fight, Em was rescued by a boy named Rhodey (Kaleb Horn). Rhodey revealed that he was also a reviver like Em, which is how he recognized that Em’s cuts were healing and that she was a reviver. He also revealed that he’s part of a band that’s putting on a show titled “November Dismember.“The title of the show, coupled with Rhodey’s comments about knowing that revivers can heal “a lot more than broken bones,” seems to imply that he’s cutting off parts of his body in front of a live audience and letting them grow back.
Despite just having met Rhodey, Em agreed to leave with him. Em wanted some space from Dana and Wayne, so she left a note in Dana’s police car on the back of the poster Rhodey gave her.While the note did ask Dana for space, it also included the time, date, and location of Rhodey’s concert, which should let Dana find Em later on inRevivalseason 1. Whether Rhodey can really be trusted or not, however, remains to be seen.
2Wayne Called In A Favor With The Governor Of Wisconsin
Wayne May Be Asking For More Funding Or Even The National Guard In Revival
Near the end ofRevivalseason 1, episode 2, Wayne decided to call in a favor with the governor of Wisconsin. Wayne has been having problems with the mayor of Wausau since the start ofRevival, and the bulk of their arguments seem to center around the idea that the police department in the town isn’t funded well enough.It’s possible that Wayne used his favor with the governor to secure more funding for Wausau’s police. However, Wayne also wants to take a stricter approach to the revivers, so he may have even asked for the governor to call in the Wisconsin national guard.
1Kay Claimed She Knows Who Killed Em In Revival
Kay Seems To Know Who Em’s Murderer Is, But She’s Likely Mistaken This Early In The Season
Revivalseason 1, episode 2 saved its last bombshell revelation for the final moments of the show. Dana eventually went back to Em’s dorm room after losing her little sister, and she walked in on Em’s roommate, Kay (Maia Jae Bastidas) smoking weed.After Dana intimidated her by threatening to press drug charges, Kay claimed that she knows who killed Em. Kay also made some vague mentions of how Dana got so many painkillers in the first place and regretting “taking her there,” but her claim overshadowed them all.
Revival Release Schedule
Episode Title/#
Release Date (Thursdays @ 10 p.m. ET on Syfy, One Week Later on Peacock)
7
8
9
10
August 14
It’s hard to imagine that Kay truly does know who murdered Em.We’re only two episodes intoRevivalseason 1’s 10-episode run, and this is almost certainly a red herring to keep Dana occupied. That being said, there is a chance that Kay’s theory could lead Dana to another interesting revelation in the next episode, and she may even help Dana get closer to discovering how Revival Day happened in the first place. It’s too soon to tell, butRevivalmay already be opening up its secrets.
